Published: October 25, 2009 02:09 pm      

Local archers compete at NASP World Tournament

Somerset — Archery teams from Nancy Elementary, Shopville Elementary and Somerset Christian School qualified, and fielded teams in the National Archery in Schools World Tournament in Orlando, Fla.

The Shopville Elementary archery team finished third in the world with a team total of 3,094 points, while Nancy Elementary finished in seventh place with 2,933 points. The elementary team of Eagle Mountain Magnet in Batesville Ark. won the world title with 3,149 points.

Somerset Christian School finished sixth in the middle school division with 2,622 points. Anderson County Middle School of Lawrenceburg, Ky., won the middle school world title with 3,321 points.

Nancy Elementary fourth-grader Jonathan Gallagher shot a 279 to claim the title as he best male fourth-grader in the world tourney. Teammate John Davis Nelson shot a 260 to rank fourth in the world, and Eli Cook shot a 254 to rank eighth.

Shopville fourth-grader Elijah Daniels shot a 253 to rank ninth. Somerset Christian’s Corey Reliford shot a 249 to rank 11th among fourth-graders in the world.

Shopville fifth-grader Sarah Burton shot a 270 to rank fourth in the world. Teammate Halee Lanigan shot a 265 to rank eighth, and Shopville’s Josie Scruggs shot a 260 to rank 11th among fifth graders.

Nancy Elementary fourth-grader Alexandria Halcomb ranked ninth in the world in the female division.

Shopville’s Daniel Mink placed 15th among the male fifth graders. Somerset Christian’s Whitney Phelps ranked 13th among female sixth graders.

Somerset Christian’s Nicholas Henry ranked ninth among male sixth graders.

Both, Shopville Elementary and Nancy Elementary archery teams have been competitive at the state and national levels this past year, but their trip to the NASP World Tournament proved to be a growing experience for the young archers. The local archery teams success and travel was supported by the members of their respective small communities.

“The kids worked extremely hard to qualify and compete in the World Tournament, but they worked even harder to help raise money for the trip to Orlando,” Shopville Elementary co-coach Joy Ball commented. “We were overwhelmed by the response by the people in the community who donated money to help the kids make the trip to Orlando.”

Both, schools had to raise nearly $10,000 per team to make the trip south.

“This was not just an archery team event, this was a community event,” Nancy Elementary co-coach Lisa Hall said. “Several local businesses were sponsors of our team and people in the community, who had no children involved in the event, donated money. I think the people in this community wanted to support these kids, and they wanted to see them do well.”

Once both teams raised the money and made the trip, the coaches learned a lot about their students and their respective families.

“This experience was great for me as an educator, because I was able to spend time with my students and their families,” Nancy Elementary co-coach Calvin Rollyson said. “This experience brought us all closer together and we formed an extended family among the children, the parents and the coaches.”

While archery was the purpose of the trip, the young student-athletes got to enjoy some other things along the way.

“Getting to go to Disney World and swim in the pool everyday was great,” Shopville fifth-grader Zachary Mayfield exclaimed. “The archery competition was a little nerve racking at first, but once we started shooting it was easy.”

Shopville fifth-grader Elijah Daniels started bow hunting with his father when he was eight years old, and he was more than eager to tryout for the school’s archery team when the chance arose.

“I got to swim in the ocean and play on the beach, but I had the most fun in the archery competition,” Daniels said. “Archery is a fun sport and I would encourage more kids to give it a try.”

In 2007, Somerset Christian School P.E. Coach Jamie Middleton and Coach Jeffrey Eades, introduced archery to their school through the NASP. Students had the opportunity to learn about proper archery safety and shooting techniques during PE.

In 2008, Somerset Christian had around 24 students signed up practicing. Later that year, 19 students went to the Regional Tournament and laced fourth in the middle school division. Two of the girls received medals for placing in the top five overall for the Region (Alicia Garland — 8th grade and Ryan Cunningham 5th grade). In the NASP Kentucky State Championship, Somerset Christian School had the first place overall Elementary girl in Ryan Cunningham. Brandon Eades, 6th grade, came in first place for our boys and ninth overall in Pulaski County. Rachael Perrett scored the highest score for the entire team at the state tournament with a 268,

“These accomplishments inspired growth,” said Middleton. “It was an exciting and very rewarding first year. Our school was one of some 50 Kentucky teams that competed in the National Championship Tournament.”

The Cougars’ top scorer for the Nationals was Alicia Garland 268, and their top boy was Ben Rice with a 260. Somerset Christian School scored 2,749 total points in the Nationals for a Middle School Team their first year out.

“Our second year was just as rewarding and we had a total of 41 students that competed,” Eades said. “Last year’s team scored 2,889 points and had many great accomplishments as well.”

The following archers competed for nancy i the NASP World Tournament — Jonathan Gallagher, Lucas Roy, John David Nelson, Lance Hall, Trever Bair, Shea Minton, Eli Cook, Hunter Sumpter, Alexandria Halcomb, Carrie Molden, Mahala Burton and Miracle Ramsey. Nancy was coached by Calvin Rollyson, Lisa Hall, Keli Nelson and Kim Ramsey.

The following archers competed for Shopville in the NASP World Tournament — Sarah Burton, Colby Hays, Haylee Lanigan, Daniel Mink, Clayton Purvis, Josie Scruggs, Sam Dykes, Jessica Catron, Elijah Daniels, Drew Whitaker, Jacob Blevins, Zachary Mayfield, Ryan Pollard, Kendra Hamilton, Alissa Rookard and Zachary DeBord. Shopville is coached by Joy Ball, Chris Hays, Doug Blevins, Stephen Dykes, and Billy Norris.

The following archers competed for Somerset Christian in the NASP World Tournament — Nicholas Henry, Whitney Phelps, Brandon Eades, Corey Reliford, Nikoli Gammage, Caitlyn Acey, Luke Huffman, Noah Phelps, Sarah Henry, Clay Huffman, Jarred Eades, Maranda Penland, Nathan Adcock, Lacey Reliford and Tyler Mize.